Cooley Peninsula

The Cooley Peninsula (from Irish: Cuaille,[1] older Cuailghe)[2] is a hilly peninsula in County Louth, Ireland, which includes towns such as Omeath, Carlingford and Greenore.

Contents

Geography

The peninsula contains the Cooley Mountains, the highest of which, Slieve Foy, is also the highest peak in County Louth at 588m. To the north is Carlingford Lough and the border with Northern Ireland; to the south is Dundalk Bay. The peninsula is ringed by the R173 regional road.

Antiquity

In Irish mythology Cooley (Old Irish Cúalnge) was the home of the bull Donn Cúailnge, and the site of the Táin Bó Cúailnge or Cattle Raid of Cooley. Ancient monuments in Cooley include the Proleek Dolmen, whose capstone weighs an estimated 46 tons (46.7 tonnes), and a Bronze Age gallery grave, both near Ballymascanlon.

People

The Cooley Peninsula is the home of current Irish rugby player, Rob Kearney.

References

  1. ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
  2. ^ Rhys, John. Lectures on the Origin and Growth of Religion (1892), p.140

External Links